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PVR · 25 June 2020, 01:34 PM

I just bought this watch and the case is unlike any I have ever seen. The original owner told me it was done by hand in Italy and the case is unpolished.

Would you keep it Florentine or restore the original Satin finish to the lugs?

interestedwatcher · 25 June 2020, 01:39 PM

hmm - do you like it? I might buy a case like this, but the pricing would have to reflect that workmanship - it looks relatively amateur, and the value is affected accordingly. It is also very deep - a lot of meat will be taken off to polish that.

As for completely unpolished, those edges look VERY sharp on the right hand side in the second last photo.

I'd also get a photo of the reference number and post it, to make sure everything is kosher, unless you're certain.

For example, quite regularly a horizontal wear mark will exist on the 'REGISTERED' above the 1675 - it is where the end link rubs on the case, here that's not present at all.

fmc000 · 25 June 2020, 07:24 PM

First time I see this kind of work on a steel watch, usually you will find it only on 1675 gold cases and bracelets.

PVR · 25 June 2020, 08:26 PM

I too have never seen it on a Stainless Watch, only Gold models and usually Day Dates. Not too many replies but, wondering if I should remove it or leave it be..

Yes, to remove it will take some material off of the case but luckily it is from the top of the lugs so it will not make too much of a difference and will probably be unnoticeable once the satin is re- applied.

Is it special enough to leave alone?

swish77 · 26 June 2020, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVR

I too have never seen it on a Stainless Watch, only Gold models and usually Day Dates. Not too many replies but, wondering if I should remove it or leave it be..

Yes, to remove it will take some material off of the case but luckily it is from the top of the lugs so it will not make too much of a difference and will probably be unnoticeable once the satin is re- applied.

Is it special enough to leave alone?

I'd absolutely have it restored, removing those "scratches." I'd send it to LAWW or another good vintage case specialist. The case looks great otherwise. Nice and sharp.

JustinK · 26 June 2020, 03:04 AM

I can't imagine high demand for a custom finish on a GMT if you went to sell it. I would refinish it.

athom · 26 June 2020, 03:52 AM

anti-slip texture to save the flies ?

PVR · 26 June 2020, 07:23 AM

The watch was sent off to be returned to original. I will post pics when it returns for all that may be interested to see the final result. Thank you for your comments.

PVR · 26 June 2020, 01:23 PM

End result. No polishing, no chamfer cutting, just restore top line finish and remove Florentine.. Looks better. Thanks Y'all

Kingface66 · 26 June 2020, 01:36 PM

The watch was sent-off AND re-done in less than a day??

PVR · 26 June 2020, 08:17 PM

It was sent out Wednesday Fedex for Thursday. The refinisher re-did the top of the lugs only on Thursday night and sent me the pics late, which I posted. It's now Friday morning and he is shipping the case back to me Fedex for Saturday delivery. (tomorrow)

I asked the question after I sent out the case but, before the refinisher had started any work because I was questioning my decision and had a window to stop him if anyone felt the Florentine was something that should remain.

Not one person felt it should, so the green light was given and the case restored.

Yes, I move fast :)

Vincent65 · 26 June 2020, 09:24 PM

How's the rest of it?

Pocosso · 26 June 2020, 10:46 PM

I think you did right to restore it to the original look. Florend=tine is nicer on a gold watch.

swaini3 · 27 June 2020, 05:02 AM

it does look better now. Nice to see that not alot of meat was lost.

1watch · 27 June 2020, 05:22 AM

I'm a fan of leaving things as original as possible and whatever was done in Italy is a detractor to my eyes. It looks much better with the correct satin finish on the lug tops and chamfer is still nice. I didn't catch which 1675 variant this was... so out of curiosity, what year approx. is the case and do you have a pic of the complete watch to share?

PVR · 27 June 2020, 07:53 AM

The case will be here tomorrow and I will put it all together and post a pic of the complete watch hopefully by Sunday. Funny, not a single person felt the case should remain "as is" with the Florentine, so I feel like I made the right choice right off the bat.

When I show the complete watch, you will understand why I had to take it, even with the weird case. Its a 5 million case, MK5 dial, all original, yada yada..

PVR · 28 June 2020, 04:30 AM

To those that asked to see it complete, here you go. Thanks to all that helped seal the fate of the Florentine :)

Verdi · 28 June 2020, 04:33 AM

Good call to have it restored! That finish had no place on the GMT!
It looks amazing now! Enjoy it

Pocosso · 28 June 2020, 06:07 AM

Very Nice! Good restoration and Nice Patina!

26 June 2020, 03:52 AM	#7
athom "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 688	anti-slip texture to save the flies ? __________________ Rolex ♛ GMT-Master 1675 BLRO \| Rolex ♛ Submariner 1680 RED \| Rolex ♛ Submariner 5513 MF \| Rolex ♛ Submariner 114060 \| Omega Ω Speedmaster 105.012

26 June 2020, 09:24 PM	#12
Vincent65 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Switzerland Posts: 14,293	How's the rest of it? __________________

26 June 2020, 10:46 PM	#13
Pocosso "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Real Name: Davide Location: Italy Watch: RO/ROO/PAM/DAYTONA Posts: 402	I think you did right to restore it to the original look. Florend=tine is nicer on a gold watch. __________________ 5167-5711 6217-8001 16520A-16520E-16500-116610LV-166710LN-16760-16030-16570T- ROO(Ti)-RO-ROC PAN0055-PAM351-PAM733-PAM721 Type XX-XXI

28 June 2020, 04:33 AM	#18
Verdi "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2015 Real Name: Mitch Location: UAE Watch: Big Ben Posts: 2,451	Good call to have it restored! That finish had no place on the GMT! It looks amazing now! Enjoy it __________________ IG: @watch_idiot_savant

28 June 2020, 06:07 AM	#19
Pocosso "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Real Name: Davide Location: Italy Watch: RO/ROO/PAM/DAYTONA Posts: 402	Very Nice! Good restoration and Nice Patina! __________________ 5167-5711 6217-8001 16520A-16520E-16500-116610LV-166710LN-16760-16030-16570T- ROO(Ti)-RO-ROC PAN0055-PAM351-PAM733-PAM721 Type XX-XXI

25 June 2020, 01:39 PM	#2
interestedwatcher 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Perth Posts: 974	hmm - do you like it? I might buy a case like this, but the pricing would have to reflect that workmanship - it looks relatively amateur, and the value is affected accordingly. It is also very deep - a lot of meat will be taken off to polish that. As for completely unpolished, those edges look VERY sharp on the right hand side in the second last photo. I'd also get a photo of the reference number and post it, to make sure everything is kosher, unless you're certain. For example, quite regularly a horizontal wear mark will exist on the 'REGISTERED' above the 1675 - it is where the end link rubs on the case, here that's not present at all.

25 June 2020, 07:24 PM	#3
fmc000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Fabio Location: Como - Italy Posts: 4,811	First time I see this kind of work on a steel watch, usually you will find it only on 1675 gold cases and bracelets.

25 June 2020, 08:26 PM	#4
PVR "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Darien, CT Posts: 321	I too have never seen it on a Stainless Watch, only Gold models and usually Day Dates. Not too many replies but, wondering if I should remove it or leave it be.. Yes, to remove it will take some material off of the case but luckily it is from the top of the lugs so it will not make too much of a difference and will probably be unnoticeable once the satin is re- applied. Is it special enough to leave alone?

26 June 2020, 03:04 AM	#6
JustinK 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Real Name: Justin Location: Jupiter, FL Watch: 1530,1665,1680 Posts: 2,054	I can't imagine high demand for a custom finish on a GMT if you went to sell it. I would refinish it.

26 June 2020, 07:23 AM	#8
PVR "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Darien, CT Posts: 321	The watch was sent off to be returned to original. I will post pics when it returns for all that may be interested to see the final result. Thank you for your comments.

26 June 2020, 01:36 PM	#10
Kingface66 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The Empire State Watch: 1966 Rolex 5513 Posts: 3,419	The watch was sent-off AND re-done in less than a day??

26 June 2020, 08:17 PM	#11
PVR "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Darien, CT Posts: 321	It was sent out Wednesday Fedex for Thursday. The refinisher re-did the top of the lugs only on Thursday night and sent me the pics late, which I posted. It's now Friday morning and he is shipping the case back to me Fedex for Saturday delivery. (tomorrow) I asked the question after I sent out the case but, before the refinisher had started any work because I was questioning my decision and had a window to stop him if anyone felt the Florentine was something that should remain. Not one person felt it should, so the green light was given and the case restored. Yes, I move fast :)

27 June 2020, 05:02 AM	#14
swaini3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Real Name: Mo Location: Dubai Watch: 1675 GMT, DRSD Posts: 1,432	it does look better now. Nice to see that not alot of meat was lost.

27 June 2020, 05:22 AM	#15
1watch "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: US Posts: 657	I'm a fan of leaving things as original as possible and whatever was done in Italy is a detractor to my eyes. It looks much better with the correct satin finish on the lug tops and chamfer is still nice. I didn't catch which 1675 variant this was... so out of curiosity, what year approx. is the case and do you have a pic of the complete watch to share?

27 June 2020, 07:53 AM	#16
PVR "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Darien, CT Posts: 321	The case will be here tomorrow and I will put it all together and post a pic of the complete watch hopefully by Sunday. Funny, not a single person felt the case should remain "as is" with the Florentine, so I feel like I made the right choice right off the bat. When I show the complete watch, you will understand why I had to take it, even with the weird case. Its a 5 million case, MK5 dial, all original, yada yada..

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